CostIndexUSA

Philadelphia, PA vs Tempe, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
AZ
Tempe
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Philadelphia is slightly cheaper than Tempe — 0.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Philadelphia, you would need $80,500 in Tempe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+7.2%
Philadelphia
113.1
Tempe
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.9%
Philadelphia
96.8
Tempe
95
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Philadelphia
108.2
Tempe
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Philadelphia
97.9
Tempe
98.8
Utilities18.4%
Philadelphia
114.4
Tempe
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Philadelphia to see what you'd need to earn in Tempe to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tempe, AZ
$80,500
$500 more needed in Tempe

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 102.6) = salary × 1.0068. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Tempe, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Tempe has 7.2% higher housing costs compared to Philadelphia.

Income & Job Market

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

Tempe, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
185,038
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Tempe, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.